Sam Woo Seafood Bbq - Cerritos

When it comes to Chinese food, Sam Woo satisfies me every time. Not only is their restaurant clean, but their food is tasty and reasonably priced. I can’t think of the exact time that they open, but I know that their restaurant is open earlier than other nearby Chinese restaurants. They also have a pretty good selection of lunch specials. As long as you get there before 3:00 PM, you can save a bit of money and leave with your tummy filled. Great, eh? Service is okay. It’s not bad, but not the best type of service available. There is one particular waiter that’s super friendly though. The other waiters are just so-so. I didn’t really dock them off on service simply because most of the other Chinese restaurants I’ve been to have had so-so service as well. The restaurant is pretty spacious. They have a tank that’s filled with live seafood. So, if you’re not into the whole eating “fresh” food, then make sure that you avoid ordering anything that says “live” from the menu. (Supposedly, “fresh” seafood tastes better. They have restrooms located near the entrance to their restaurant. I must warn you that their toilets tend to have a problem. In other words, low flush power. It takes a few times before things get flushed completely. Just thought I’d let you know… Sam Woo seems to attract families and their round tables are perfect for large families. They also have rectangular tables for smaller parties/families. Don’t be surprised to see someone’s grandma/grandpa at Sam Woo; I’ve actually seen many elders dine here with their younger relatives. Although I said that their restaurant is clean, there is one thing negative that I’d like to point out to you. I’ve caught their cook go on a smoking break before. Just thought I’d let you know in case anyone doesn’t like that… But then again, that sort of seems to be the norm at almost every Chinese restaurant. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been able to observe at least one cook go off on a smoking break. Sam Woo has their own parking lots. However, it can be pretty hectic to find a parking space if you come during their busy hours (lunch/dinner time .

There are nicer Sam Woo’s than this place, but the food is soo good here that I just ignore the dilapidated look of the place and most probably their C rating from the Health Dept. Its pretty authentic Chinese food here. I know this because most all the clientele are FOB-bie – Chinese and Filipino, which is representative of the local community. And what would a Chinese restaurant without the ubiquitous rude and inattentive wait staff? Yah, I feel at home here once I spy those large fish tanks which explains the fishy smell to the place. But ahhh, my food comes quick and steaming hot. My stomach, taste buds and eyes are soo happy! I’ve ordered lots of things here, too many to name, and its always good. It always taste like what its supposed to. No fusion experiment gone awry here. Very convenient off the South Street Exit off of the 91fwy at the corner of Pioneer and South Street. It has its own parking lot which is always full, but there’s usually someone pulling out. Wait is never really long. Lots of fun and good times with friends here over good food.

Sam Woo caters to family-style dining very efficiently; they also have limited dim-sum during lunch hrs. Crab, lobster, n fish dishes are prepared w/ the crustacean or fish plucked right out of their fresh water tank. They serves wonderful wonton noodle soups w/ BBQ pork or duck. Special sauces/preparation for lobsters n crabs such as salt n pepper, green onion n garlic, house special (oyster) sauce… This location opens late on weeknites ~midnite n later on weekends.

There are certainly more aesthetically pleasing Sam Woo locations than this one, but the food is so delicious that I can't help but overlook the rundown appearance and their C rating from the Health Department. The menu offers genuinely authentic Chinese cuisine, evident by the many locals dining here, particularly Chinese and Filipino patrons. And what would a Chinese restaurant be without the ever-present and discreet waitstaff? I feel right at home when I see those large fish tanks, which explain the fishy aroma that lingers in the air. But the best part is that my food arrives quickly and piping hot, bringing joy to my stomach, taste buds, and eyes! I've tried a multitude of dishes here, far too many to list, and they’ve all been consistently good. Each dish tastes exactly as it should, without any fusion gimmicks. Conveniently located at the corner of Pioneer and South Street, right off the South Street exit of the 91 freeway, it has its own parking lot that often fills up, but there's usually someone leaving. The wait is never long. Enjoy good times with friends over fantastic food here!

Sam Woo is a family-run restaurant that operates efficiently. They offer a limited selection of dim sum during lunchtime. The crabs, lobsters, and fish dishes are prepared with fresh seafood sourced directly from their tanks. One of the highlights is their delicious Wonton noodle soup, which can be enjoyed with BBQ pork or duck. They prepare special sauces for the lobster and crab, including salt and pepper, green onion and garlic, and their house special oyster sauce. The restaurant stays open late on weekdays, around midnight, and even later on weekends.